Has 7 man had its day ?

[Whitt8211]

so what does this mean for our sport?if this is a taste of things to come will it be 3man in 5 years due to lack of players?or are the players there and the only reason teams are finding it hard to fill the squad is because there are so many people starting teams and lots of teams already that the players are spread to thinly?

Good point, there seems to be a new team looking for players on here every week instead of the players trying out for an already established team

 

[Syd (NSPL)]

I'm going to go against the trend here and suggest that player numbers are actually starting to increase again. Not by any huge margins, but I do believe we are on the up again as opposed to the decline that we've seen in recent years.

To me, it's all been about the transition and the old school 'ballers slowly giving way to a new generation of sup'air fanatics. It's taken some time to make the change over from the woods to sup'air, and to counter the affects this had upon the player-base, but take a look around you and I think you'll agree that we are getting there.

As for seven-man having had its day? Well, maybe. But not yet and who knows what the future holds?

 

[Matt_Breakout]

i agree with you Lovetone, most our team, say about 80percent are at university which makes it difficult to fully commit. Plus when you hit the grand age of 18, booze becomes an important part, which sucks up alot of funds. We find it hard to find 7 men to play a tournment and have joined with another team this year to play the pa, as until most of us finish uni, realistically, we have very limited options

 

[Milky]

hope not i prefer 7man not to say i dont like Xball just prefere 7man

 

[Exile]

Good point, there seems to be a new team looking for players on here every week instead of the players trying out for an already established team

Seeing as most of those threads are started by relative newcomers to the sport, maybe most of them either didn't know there were established teams in their area (how many teams actively recruit new walk-ons/players?) or felt that they want to play/train amongst their own level initially.

I say good luck to them - the more new teams the better. If the established teams are having problems finding players, maybe they should look inwards at their image and recruitment techniques rather than bitching about it on the net. (This is not aimed at anyone in particular, but if the cap fits.........)

As to the demise of 7-man, surely this is more due to the emergence and obviously (from a Spectator/Media viewpoint at least) more exciting X-ball style formats? The more committed/dedicated players want to play a match-style format, and as the Pro-Tour showed, 7-man really doesn't lend itself to that style.

Don't worry tho, I'm sure that soon enough there will be a big retro-revival and we will see Mech-only ten man come back.

 

[AL_]

Thing is though, look at places like France. Paintball's going from strength to strength, with a massive influx of players... I don't deny UK paintball does *appear* to be on the decline, obviusly for the reasons mentioned above. However, I don't think this has anything to do with the death of 7-man or format change.

I'd point the finger at the US. The NXL is by far the biggest, most competative, and best league there is, the NPPL plays second fiddle. Everyone is just trying to emulate that sucess...

 

[Whitt8211]

Seeing as most of those threads are started by relative newcomers to the sport, maybe most of them either didn't know there were established teams in their area (how many teams actively recruit new walk-ons/players?) or felt that they want to play/train amongst their own level initially.

I say good luck to them - the more new teams the better. If the established teams are having problems finding players, maybe they should look inwards at their image and recruitment techniques rather than bitching about it on the net. (This is not aimed at anyone in particular, but if the cap fits.........)

Its not hard to find a team in your area, on here or by just asking around your local site and surly they would improve quicker playing and training with a better team

More teams would be better but a lot fold or never really get started

I'm not bitching just sharing my opinion (not my teams) just as you are mate

 

[Exile]

I never said you were.

 

[Markie C]

I just think that paintball is still new its only been about for what i don't even know but supair is say what 10 years old ??????

I think we are just finding our feet and just working out what the best format is then i think when every one is singing from the same hymn sheet then we have more of a chance to promote our selves...

I think it would be better that way so it is not so fragmented.

 

[Bolter]

If everything does go xball, which I love playing btw, then I hope they ammend the coaching rule. I hate it when you make a move and it gets taken away from you by the coach for the other side, or the crowd or both.

Thats my only gripe with xball, and one I could possibly live with, but hope they ammend slightly.